Amniotic stem cells

Amniotic stem cells are multipotent stem cells of mesenchymal origin extracted from amniotic fluid.[1] They are able to differentiate into various tissue type, such as skin, cartilage, cardiac tissue, nerves, muscle, and bone,[2] and have potential medical applications, especially in organ regeneration.[3]

Amniotic fluid stem cells are harvested without destroying embryos, although amniocentesis does carry a small procedure-related excess risk of pregnancy loss (estimated at 0.06%). The use of amniotic fluid stem cells is therefore generally considered to lack the ethical problems associated with the use of embryos.

In 2009, the first US amniotic stem cell bank was opened in Medford, MA, by Biocell Center, an international company specializing in the cryopreservation and private banking of amniotic fluid stem cells.